U.S. patent number 10,124,767 [Application Number 15/882,191] was granted by the patent office on 2018-11-13 for vehicle exterior keypad having interior lamp.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC. The grantee listed for this patent is Ford Global Technologies, LLC. Invention is credited to Paul Kenneth Dellock, Cornel Lewis Gardner, Aaron Bradley Johnson, Stuart C. Salter.
United States Patent |
10,124,767 |
Salter , et al. |
November 13, 2018 |
Vehicle exterior keypad having interior lamp
Abstract
An input keypad assembly on a vehicle is provided and includes a
keypad located on a vehicle body member and configured to receive a
user input on an exterior of the vehicle, and a lamp configured to
illuminate light in an interior of the vehicle.
Inventors: |
Salter; Stuart C. (White Lake,
MI), Dellock; Paul Kenneth (Northville, MI), Gardner;
Cornel Lewis (Romulus, MI), Johnson; Aaron Bradley
(Allen Park, MI) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Ford Global Technologies, LLC |
Dearborn |
MI |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
(Dearborn, MI)
|
Family
ID: |
64050626 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/882,191 |
Filed: |
January 29, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60Q
3/74 (20170201); B60R 25/23 (20130101); B60Q
3/208 (20170201); B60Q 3/76 (20170201); H03K
17/9622 (20130101); B60Q 3/82 (20170201); G06F
3/0219 (20130101); H03K 2217/960785 (20130101); H03K
2217/960755 (20130101); B60Q 3/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60R
25/23 (20130101); H03K 17/96 (20060101); G06F
3/02 (20060101); B60Q 3/00 (20170101) |
Field of
Search: |
;340/5.5-5.55 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Other References
"Securicode Keyless Entry Keypad,"
https://owner.ford.com/how-tos/vehicle-features/locks-and-security/securi-
code-keyless-entry-keypad.html, Official Ford Owner Site, 6 pages,
copyrighted 2016, Ford Motor Company. cited by applicant .
"Keyfree," www.keyfree.gr/index.php/productsgr/10-mkeyfree-touch, 6
pages, VSA Ltd., copyrighted Automotive Innovations. cited by
applicant .
"Touch Sensors Design Guide" by ATMEL, 10620 D-AT42-04/09, Revised
Apr. 2009, 72 pages, Copyrighted 2008-2009 Atmel Corporation. cited
by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Cao; Allen T
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Rogers; Jason Price Heneveld
LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An input keypad assembly on a vehicle, comprising: a keypad
comprising a plurality of proximity sensors mounted between a
vehicle body member and a circuit board and connected to the
circuit board, the keypad configured to receive a user input on an
exterior of the vehicle; and a lamp mounted on the circuit board
and configured to illuminate light in an interior of the
vehicle.
2. The input keypad assembly of claim 1, wherein the body member
comprises a window.
3. The input key assembly of claim 2, wherein the input keypad
assembly is located in a frit region of the window.
4. The input keypad assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of
proximity sensors are positioned on a surface of the vehicle body
member.
5. The input keypad assembly of claim 4, wherein the plurality of
proximity sensors comprises a plurality of capacitive sensors.
6. The input keypad assembly of claim 5, wherein each of the
capacitive sensors comprises a first plurality of electrode fingers
interlaced with a second plurality of electrode fingers.
7. The input keypad assembly of claim 1, wherein the keypad is
employed to control operation of a door lock to lock or unlock a
vehicle door.
8. The input keypad assembly of claim 1 further comprising a
character region viewable from the exterior of the vehicle for
providing an illuminated character for identifying pads of the
keypad.
9. The input keypad assembly of claim 8 further comprising a
circuit board, wherein the lamp comprises a first light source
assembled on the circuit board.
10. The input keypad assembly of claim 9 further comprising a
second light source assembled on the circuit board and located
behind the character region for backlighting the character
region.
11. An input keypad assembly on a vehicle comprising: a circuit
board located on a vehicle body member; a keypad comprising a
plurality of proximity sensors mounted between the body member and
a first side of the circuit board and configured to receive a user
input on an exterior of the vehicle; and a lamp mounted on the
circuit board and configured to illuminate light in the interior of
the vehicle.
12. The input keypad assembly of claim 11, wherein the body member
comprises a window.
13. The input key assembly of claim 12, wherein the input keypad
assembly is located in a fit region of the window.
14. The input keypad assembly of claim 11, wherein the plurality of
proximity sensors are positioned on a surface of the vehicle body
member.
15. The input keypad assembly of claim 14, wherein the plurality of
proximity sensors comprises a plurality of capacitive sensors.
16. The input keypad assembly of claim 15, wherein each of the
capacitive sensors comprises a first plurality of electrode fingers
interlaced with a second plurality of electrode fingers.
17. The input keypad assembly of claim 11, wherein the keypad is
employed to control operation of a door lock to lock or unlock a
vehicle door.
18. The input keypad assembly of claim 11 further comprising a
character region viewable from the exterior of the vehicle for
providing an illuminated character for identifying pads of the
keypad.
19. The input keypad assembly of claim 17, wherein the lamp
comprises a first light source assembled on the circuit board and
arranged to illuminate light outward from a second side of the
circuit board.
20. The input keypad assembly of claim 18 further comprising a
second light source assembled on the circuit board and located
behind the character region for backlighting the character region.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to proximity keypad input
devices, and more particularly relates to a proximity sensor key
input pad with lighting.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Automotive vehicles are commonly equipped with various user
actuatable input devices for entering inputs to control the various
devices or functions. For example, keypads are often provided on
the vehicle body exterior to enable a user to enter a sequence of
inputs as a code to actuate a door lock without a mechanical key or
key fob. Conventional keypads employed on motor vehicles may
include mechanical switches actuated by the user or proximity
switches which may be located on a door, a window or other parts of
the body of the vehicle. It may be desirable to provide for an
enhanced keypad assembly that offers added functionality and
performance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention, an input keypad
assembly on a vehicle is provided. The input keypad assembly
includes a keypad located on a vehicle body member and configured
to receive a user input on an exterior of the vehicle, and a lamp
configured to illuminate light in an interior of the vehicle.
Embodiments of the first aspect of the invention can include any
one or a combination of the following features: the body member
comprises a window; the input keypad assembly is located in a frit
region of the window; the keypad comprises a plurality of proximity
sensors positioned on a surface of the vehicle body member; the
plurality of proximity sensors comprises a plurality of capacitive
sensors; each of the capacitive sensors comprises a first plurality
of electrode fingers interlaced with a second plurality of
electrode fingers; the keypad is employed to control operation of a
door lock to lock or unlock a vehicle door; the input keypad
assembly further includes a character region viewable from the
exterior of the vehicle for providing an illuminated character for
identifying pads of the keypad; the input keypad assembly further
includes a circuit board, wherein the lamp comprises a first light
source assembled on the circuit board; and the input keypad
assembly further includes a second light source assembled on the
circuit board and located behind the character region for
backlighting the character region.
According to another aspect of the present invention, an input
keypad assembly on a vehicle is provided. The input keypad assembly
includes a circuit board located on a vehicle body member, a keypad
connected a first side of the circuit board and configured to
receive a user input on an exterior of the vehicle, and a lamp
connected on the circuit board and configured to illuminate light
in the interior of the vehicle.
Embodiments of the second aspect of the invention can include any
one or a combination of the following features: the body member
comprises a window; the input keypad assembly is located in a frit
region of the window; the keypad comprises a plurality of proximity
sensors positioned on a surface of the vehicle body member; the
plurality of proximity sensors comprises a plurality of capacitive
sensors; each of the capacitive sensors comprises a first plurality
of electrode fingers interlaced with a second plurality of
electrode fingers; the keypad is employed to control operation of a
door lock to lock or unlock a vehicle door; the input keypad
assembly further includes a character region viewable from the
exterior of the vehicle for providing an illuminated character for
identifying pads of the keypad; the lamp comprises a first light
source assembled on the circuit board and arranged to illuminate
light outward from a second side of the circuit board; and the
input keypad assembly further includes a second light source
assembled on the circuit board and located behind the character
region for backlighting the character region.
These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present
invention will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in
the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and
appended drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a motor vehicle equipped with
an input keypad assembly having an interior lamp, according to one
embodiment;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of section II of FIG. 1 further
illustrating the input keypad assembly on the exterior side;
FIG. 3 is an interior perspective view of the keypad assembly
further illustrating the lamp on the interior side;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of section IV of FIG. 3 further
illustrating the interior side of the keypad assembly with the
lamp;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken through line V-V of FIG. 4
further illustrating the keypad assembly;
FIG. 6 is an exploded view as seen from the exterior of the
capacitive input keypad assembly with the lamp;
FIG. 7 is an exploded view as seen from the interior of the
capacitive input keypad assembly with the lamp; and
FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating controls for processing
keypad and light inputs and controlling the door locks and interior
light.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
For purposes of description herein, the terms "upper," "lower,"
"right," "left," "rear," "front," "vertical," "horizontal," and
derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in
FIG. 1. However, it is to be understood that the invention may
assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly
specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the
specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached
drawings, and described in the following specification are simply
exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the
appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical
characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are
not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state
otherwise.
Referring to FIG. 1, a wheeled motored vehicle 10 is generally
illustrated having an input keypad assembly 20 shown configured as
a vehicle door access keypad assembly that enables a person to
enter a sequence of inputs to lock and unlock the vehicle doors,
according to one embodiment. The vehicle 10 includes a passenger
door 12 provided on the vehicle body and a door latch lock assembly
14 positioned on the door 12. The door latch lock assembly 14 may
be actuatable by a person to unlatch and thereby open the door 12
and to lock and unlock the door 12 and other doors on the vehicle
to control access to the vehicle 10. It should be appreciated that
a driver may actuate a door lock switch in the vehicle 10 and may
also be equipped with a key fob that may remotely lock and unlock
the door latch lock assembly 14 of vehicle door 12. The input
keypad assembly 20 is configured with a plurality of user
selectable input keypads 22 (FIG. 2) to enable a user (e.g.,
person) to input a code as a sequence of user inputs to lock and
unlock the vehicle door 12 by entering a programmed sequence of
input characters (e.g., alphanumeric codes) via the keypads 22
labelled with the identifier characters.
The input keypad assembly 20 is illustrated further in FIG. 2
having the plurality of user selectable input keypads 22A-22E shown
arranged vertically on a vehicle body panel shown as a rear side
window 16 adjacent to an interior rear seating arrangement and
configured for receiving an exterior input by a user, according to
one embodiment. The window 16 has a visually transparent viewing
portion 16B that is surrounded by an opaque frit portion 16A. The
opaque first portion 16A is generally not visually transparent. The
input keypad assembly 20 and input keypads 22A-22E are shown
located in the frit portion 16, according to one embodiment. It
should be appreciated that the input keypad assembly 20 and keypads
22A-22E may be located on the visually transparent viewing portion
or on other vehicle body panels such as the A, B and C pillars,
doors, other windows and elsewhere, according to other
embodiments.
The input keypads 22A-22E each include patterns in the form of
keypad indication characters 62 that are illuminable with light
such as backlighting to display a lighted character image that is
viewable on the outside surface of the window 16. The input keypads
22A-22E each define a region upon which a user may touch the input
keypad with a finger or come in close proximity thereto to provide
a user input selection. The lighted characters 62 may be formed as
transparent regions that passes light through a light blocking
medium such as a printed film. The characters 62 shown include
numerical characters one and two (1.2) for the first input keypad
22A, numerical characters three and four (3.4) for the second input
keypad 22B, numerical characters five and six (5.6) for the third
input keypad 22C, numerical characters seven and eight (7.8) for
the fourth input keypad 22D, and numerical characters nine and zero
(9.0) for the fifth input keypad 22E. It should be appreciated that
other characters such as letters or symbols may be employed as
input keypad identifiers. Each of the input keypads 22A-22E has a
capacitive sensor that senses contact or close proximity (e.g., 1
millimeter) of the user's finger with the keypads 22 and defines a
binary switch output (on or off) indicative a user selection of
that corresponding input keypad.
The input keypads 22A-22E each include a proximity sensor shown
positioned on the interior side of the glass window 16 for sensing
close proximity of a user, such as a user's finger, at or near the
exterior surface of the window 16 proximate an input pad. When a
user, such as a user's finger, is detected in close proximity to
one of the input keypads 22A-22E, all of the input keypads 22 may
initially be lighted for a short time period such as several
seconds and thus viewable to a user. The illumination of all of the
input keypads 22 may be based on a first or lower threshold limit
being exceeded by a signal generated by any one or more of the
proximity sensors. When a proximity sensor associated with one of
the inputs keypads detects a finger in closer proximity with a
higher threshold signal, indicative of an attempted activation of
the input keypad, a switch output may be generated and a feedback
lighted output may be generated to illuminate that activated input
keypad to indicate that the input pad has been activated. This may
include activating the input keypad or lighting the input keypad in
the same or a different color, according to one example.
The input keypad assembly 20 is further illustrated in FIGS. 5-7 in
more detail showing five proximity sensors configured as capacitive
sensors 50A-50E positioned to sense an object contacting or in
close proximity with the corresponding input keypads 22A-22E on or
near the exterior surface of the window 16. As seen in FIGS. 6 and
7, each of the capacitive sensors 50A-50E includes a first
electrode 52 and a second electrode 54. Each of the first and
second electrodes 52 and 54 includes a plurality of conductive
electrode fingers 56 and 58, respectively. As such, the first
electrode 52 has a first plurality of electrode fingers 56 and the
second electrode 54 has a second plurality of electrode fingers 28.
Each of the first and second electrode plurality of fingers 56 and
58 are generally positioned to be interdigitated or interlaced with
the other of the first and second plurality of electrode fingers 56
and 58 to at least some degree to generate a capacitive activation
field for sensing the presence of an object such as a user's hand
or finger. The first electrode 52 may be configured as a receive
electrode and receives a sense signal, and the second electrode 54
may be configured as a drive electrode to receive a drive
signal.
The capacitive sensors 50A-50E each provide a capacitive sense
activation field to sense contact or close proximity (e.g., within
one mm) of a user (e.g., finger) in relation to the corresponding
capacitive sensor. The capacitive sense activation field of each
capacitive sensor 50A-50E detects a user's finger which has
electrical conductivity and dielectric properties that cause a
change or disturbance in the capacitive sense activation field as
should be evident to those skilled in the art. Each of the
capacitive sensors 50A-50E provides a sense signal for a
corresponding keypad 22A-22E indicative of a user input. A user may
enter a sequence of user inputs on the keypads 22A-22E that match a
programmed key code to lock or unlock one or more vehicle doors,
according to one embodiment.
The capacitive sensors 50A-50E each generally have the first
electrode 52 and second electrode 54, each having interdigitated
fingers for generating a capacitive field. It should be appreciated
that each of the capacitive sensors 50A-50E may be formed by
printed conductive ink or by assembling preformed conductive
circuitry onto a substrate such as a flexible tape. According to
one embodiment, the first electrode 52 receives square wave drive
signal pulses applied at an input voltage. The second electrode 54
has an output for generating an output voltage. It should be
appreciated that the first and second electrodes 52 and 54 and
electrode fingers 56 and 58 may be arranged in various
configurations for generating the capacitive fields as the sense
activation fields, according to various embodiments.
The first electrodes 52 receive drive input signals on separate
drive lines 53. The capacitive sensors 50A-50E have a common output
line 55 for outputting the corresponding voltage. It should be
appreciated that the first and second electrodes 52 and 54 may be
otherwise configured so that other types of single electrode or
other multiples of electrode arrangements may be used. The input
keypad assembly 20 may advantageously be formed with conductive ink
or may alternatively be formed with flex circuitry. The capacitive
input keypad assembly 20 may be applied to various types and sizes
of input pads and characters.
In the embodiment shown and described herein, the first electrode
52 of each capacitive sensor 50A-50E may be supplied with an input
voltage as square wave signal pulses having a charge pulse cycle
sufficient to charge the second electrode 54 to a desired voltage.
The second electrode 54 thereby serves as a measurement electrode.
The adjacent sense activation fields generated by adjacent
capacitive sensors may overlap slightly or overlap may not exist.
When a user or operator, such as a user's finger enters a
capacitive sense activation field, the corresponding capacitive
sensor detects a disturbance caused by the finger to the activation
field and determines whether the disturbance is sufficient to
generate an input with the corresponding capacitive sensor. The
disturbance of the activation field is detected by processing the
charge pulse signal associated with the corresponding signal
channel for that capacitive sensor. Each capacitive sensor 50A-50E
has its own dedicated signal channel generating a distinct charge
pulse signal which may be processed individually.
Referring back to FIGS. 3 and 4, the input keypad assembly 20 is
illustrated having a lamp 26 configured to illuminate light in the
interior of the vehicle 10. The input keypad assembly 20 is
generally located in the frit portion 16A of the rear side window
16 adjacent to the rear seating arrangement in the vehicle
interior, in the embodiment shown. The lamp 26 is located on the
input keypad assembly 20 and oriented to illuminate light into the
interior of the vehicle towards the rear seating arrangement such
that the light may serve as a map or reading lamp. The lamp 26 may
alternatively, or in addition, serve as ambient lighting. It should
be appreciated that the lamp 26 may include one or more light
sources and lenses or other optics. The input keypad assembly 20
also includes an input switch in the form of a proximate switch or,
more particularly, a capacitive switch 24 which is actuatable by a
user on the vehicle interior side to turn the lamp 26 on and
off.
Referring again to FIGS. 5-7, the arrangement of the lamp 26 on the
input keypad assembly 20 is further illustrated in more detail. The
lamp 26 includes a light source 44 such as a light-emitting diode
(LED) mounted on a first or exterior side of the circuit board 30.
The light source 44 is aligned with a recessed hole 46 formed in
the trim panel 28 and the circuit board 30. An optic device shown
as a lens 45 is disposed within the recessed hole 46 and aligned
with the light source 44, according to one embodiment. The lens 45
may refract the light and spread out the light illumination in a
desired cone-shaped beam 47 or other shaped beam pattern. As such,
the light source 44 illuminates light through the recessed hole 46
and lens 45, outward from an opposite second or interior side of
the circuit board 30 and towards the interior of the vehicle. By
employing a recessed hole 46, the light source 44 is hidden and
serves to provide directed light as a map or reading light or an
ambient light.
The capacitive switch 24 for controlling the lamp 26 is shown
located on the interior side of the circuit board 30, proximate to
a depressed region on the interior surface of the trim panel 28.
The capacitive sensor 42 may include first and second electrodes 44
and 46 each having a plurality of interdigitated electrode fingers,
similar to the capacitive sensor arrangement shown for each of
capacitive sensors 50A-50E. As such, the capacitive sensor 42
generates an activation field and detects a user in close proximity
to the sensor on the interior surface of the trim panel 28 to
detect an activation to turn the lamp 26 on or off.
The capacitive sensors 50A-50E are shown formed on a flexible
medium, such as a tape 32 which, in turn, connects at electrical
connector 36 onto the exterior side of the printed circuit board
30. The flexible medium 32 thereby extends forward of a plurality
of light sources 40A-40E which are mounted on the exterior side of
the circuit board 30 to illuminate light generally in a region
through the corresponding capacitive sensors 50A-50E to backlight
the keypads 22A-22E. The light sources 40A-40E may each include an
LED having a focus field of view that illuminates a dedicated one
of the keypads 22A-22E and does not overlap with other of the
keypads. Additionally, a controller 34 which may include a
microprocessor and memory is also shown mounted on the exterior
side of the circuit board 30. The light sources 40A-40E may each
include read, green, blue (RGB) LEDs that may be controlled to
illuminate different selectable colors of light.
Located between the interior surface of the glass window 16 and the
flexible medium 32 containing the capacitive sensors 50A-50E is an
opaque sheet or layer 60 having light transmissive portions that
form the characters 62 aligned with each of the input pads 22A-22E.
The sheet 60 may include a thin layer of paint or a tape with
adhesive having an opaque surface that blocks the transmission of
light and light transparent regions formed therein in a shape that
form the desired character 62 for each input keypad. The
transparent portions may be formed by a light transmissive medium
in the tape or by a cutout or opening extending through the tape.
Each of the characters 62 for corresponding input keypads are
aligned with one of the light sources 40A-40E so that light may
illuminate through the flexible medium 32 and proximity sensors
50A-50E and onto the back surface of the sheet 60 and illuminate
through the light transmissive area forming the characters 62. As
such, the characters 62 appear illuminated as viewed from the
exterior surface of the window 16. In order to allow light to pass
through sheet 62 and capacitive sensors 50A-50E, the sheet 32 may
be formed of a light transmissive material and the capacitive
sensors 50A-50E may be formed of a visually transparent material,
such as indium tin oxide (ITO), so as to allow light to pass
therethrough and onto the sheet 60 and through the light
transparent portions to illuminate the characters 62.
The flexible tape 32 may be adhered on the paint or sheet 60 with
an adhesive. Similarly, the circuit board 30 may be adhered onto
the exterior surface of the trim panel 28 with an adhesive layer
35.
Referring to FIG. 8, the controller 34 for controlling the door
lock 70 and interior lamp 26 are illustrated. The controller 34 may
include a microprocessor 64 and memory 66. It should be appreciated
that the controller 34 may include any analog and/or digital
circuitry. The controller 34 receives signals from each of the
capacitive sensors 50A-50E of the keypads 22A-22E and, based on the
user input sequence relative to a stored code, may lock or unlock
the door lock 14 on the vehicle. Additionally, the controller 34
receives an input from the capacitive sensor 42 for controlling the
lamp input and may control the interior lamp 26 to turn the lamp on
and off.
Accordingly, the input keypad assembly 20 advantageously provides
for keypads accessible on the exterior of a vehicle to allow access
to the vehicle using proximity sensors and also provides an
interior lamp to illuminate the interior of the vehicle.
It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be
made on the aforementioned structure without departing from the
concepts of the present invention, and further it is to be
understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the
following claims unless these claims by their language expressly
state otherwise.
* * * * *
References